A $10 million "Ship of Gold" display of recovered Gold Rush sunken treasure celebrating the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the fabled SS Central America, the finest known registered set of Morgan dollars and a multi-million dollar ANA Road Show exhibit from the American Numismatic Association Money Museum -- including two 1804 dollars -- will highlight the September 2013 Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Sports Collectibles Expo.

The three-day show will be open to the public, Thursday to Saturday, September 26 - 28, in the Long Beach, California Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave.

"This will be one of the most impressive arrays of numismatic treasures in the history of the Long Beach Expo," said Cassi East, President of the Long Beach Expo.

The Central America was carrying tons of California gold when she sank in a hurricane in September 1857 during a voyage from Panama to New York City. The shipwreck site and the gold were discovered more than 7,000 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in September 1988.

The Ship of Gold exhibit in a 40-foot long representation of the ship's hull is courtesy of Monaco Rare Coins of Newport Beach, California. It required months of work to coordinate with collectors who privately own many of the items that will be displayed.

Robert D. Evans, the chief scientist on the 1980s mission that located and recovered the fabulous sunken treasure, will be at the exhibit each day during the show to meet with visitors and present educational programs about the Ship of Gold.

"It's hard to believe it has been 25 years since we first saw that sidewheel frame (on the ocean floor), sending electricity through the control room as my crewmates exclaimed, 'Oh! You know what that is! You know what that is! All right!' Then, seeing the first glint of gold dust in the seafloor sediment under my microscope, finding and recovering the bell, and seeing the first pile of gold bars and coins. It still seems new, like yesterday," recalled Evans.

"For me these days, it is the reactions of other people as they see pieces of America's greatest lost treasure that brings it all back, vibrant and fresh in my memories. I love to tell the stories, both those of the men and women of the Gold Rush, and my own experience with the treasure, which still speaks to me."

Other exhibits at the Long Beach Expo include the first-ever public display of the Coronet Collection, now the finest Morgan silver dollar set in the PCGS Set Registry®. The collection will be displayed at the Professional Coin Grading Service booth (#807), courtesy of Laura Sperber, Legend Numismatics of New Jersey and the anonymous collector who owns the coins.

The ANA Road Show, a traveling display of items from the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum and Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library, will make its California debut at the September Long Beach Expo. The exhibit includes two examples of the "King of U.S. Coins," the Cohen Class I 1804 dollar and the Idler/Bebee Class III 1804 dollar.

PHOTO CAPTION: The Idler- Bebee Class III 1804 dollar from the American Numismatic Association Money Museum will be exhibited as part of the ANA Road Show at the September 26 - 28, 2013 Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Sports Collectible Expo. (Photo credit: American Numismatic Association.)

The ANA exhibit will also include a selection of rare California National bank notes and California gold bank notes, notable numismatic errors such as a three-legged 1937-D Indian Head/Buffalo nickel and 1955 doubled die Lincoln cent, and archive papers of former United States Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro.

Legendary Dodgers baseball player, coach and Hall of Fame star Tommy Lasorda along with A.J. Ellis, Kenley Jansen and Darryl Strawberry will meet fans and sign autographs on "Dodgers Day" at the show, Saturday, September 28.

The Long Beach Expo will be open to the public for buying and selling sports memorabilia, gold and silver, rare coins, vintage paper money, rare stamps and other collectibles and estate jewelry. There will be educational seminars, club meetings and special coin and stamp collecting activities for children on Saturday. There will also be daily drawings to give away a PCGS-certified Morgan silver dollar to lucky, registered visitors.

Heritage Auctions will conduct a public auction of rare coins and currency during the show.

Public hours are Thursday and Friday, September 26 and 27, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Public admission is $8 (good for all three days); $6 for members of any coin or stamp club; $4 for seniors 65 and older and for children ages 8 to 16. Free admission for children ages 7 and younger and for members of the Collectors Universe Collectors Clubs and Set Registries. Discount coupons and a Schedule of Events are available online at www.LongBeachExpo.com.

For additional information or to pre-purchase autograph tickets, call the Long Beach Expo at (888) 743-9316 or email at LBExpo@collectors.com.

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